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Political Science General

The North American Democratic Peace

Absence of War and Security Institutions Building in Canadians-U.S. Relations (1867-1958)

by (author) Stéphane Roussel

Publisher
McGill-Queen's University Press
Initial publish date
May 2004
Category
General
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780889119390
    Publish Date
    May 2004
    List Price
    $39.95
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780889119376
    Publish Date
    May 2004
    List Price
    $37.95

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Description

That democratic societies do not fight one another is well documented, but the mechanisms that produce and maintain this situation remain vague. Stéphane Roussel argues that Canadian-U.S. security relations provide a case study that allows us to better understand this process. He shows that the structure of Canada-U.S. relations can be explained by the fact that in their mutual relations both governments have applied the norms and rules they use at the domestic level, such as banishing the use of violence and establishing equal representation. This book describes how the democratic-liberal values and norms shared by both states shaped the evolution of Canadian-American practices and institutions in the realm of security from 1867 to the formal creation of NORAD in 1958. It also challenges the common perception of Canada as a satellite of the U.S. and explains why Canadians and Americans take the peace between them for granted.

About the author

Stéphane Roussel is assistant professor and Canada Research Chair in Canadian Foreign and Defence Policy, Université du Québec à Montréal, and the author of "The North American Democratic Peace: Absence of War and Security Institution-Building in Canada-US Relations, 1867-1958."

Stéphane Roussel's profile page